Man Held On $5 Million Bail In Murder Of Aurora Nurse

AURORA, Ill. (CBS) — Friends of a slain Aurora nurse have raised more than $8,000 to help the three children she left behind, while her ex-boyfriend sits behind bars, accused of strangling her before trying to kill himself.

Heather Jacobi, 32, was killed on Friday at her home in the 100 block of Gregory Lane in Aurora, during with a dispute with her ex-boyfriend. DuPage County prosecutors Jose Loera strangled Jacobi with her scarf, then used her stethoscope to check if she was indeed dead.

Friend Sets Up Fund For Family Of Murdered Aurora Nurse

Jacobi, who was a nurse at the DuPage County Jail, tried to defend herself during the struggle, and scratched Loera’s face. His wounds were still visible after he was arrested Friday.

Heather Jacobi. (Credit: gofundme.com)

Police found Loera unconscious at his home in the 3800 block of Gabrielle Lane in Aurora, after he apparently tried to commit suicide.

Loera has been charged with first-degree murder. He was being held at the Will County Jail on $5 million bond.

As of Wednesday morning, more than 130 people had made donations, totalling $8,280, to a fund set up by Jacobi’s friend, Debby Lessentine, to pay for funeral expenses and support her children — two girls, ages 11 and 7; and a boy, age 9.

“When I set up the page, I had been up the entire night before. And all I kept thinking was, something has to be done. Something has to be done. So I just did what I thought she would’ve done for me and my children,” Lessentine said. “I know money can’t fix it. I just want them to have something when they’re bigger, when they’re older.”

Services for Jacobi were scheduled for Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Anderson Memorial Chapel, 606 Townhall Drive, Romeoville.